HENDERSON COUNTY–Athens resident Monica Figueroa was arrested March 13 in connection with the death of her four-year-old son Grayson Hurt, Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said in a press release.
According to the release, Athens Police responded to an early morning call by the child’s grandmother, Mary Johnson saying that she was afraid her daughter had harmed the child. Police responded to a residence on Mitchell Street in the city, where they found the deceased male child inside the door, partially covered by a blanket.
The report stated officers located Figueroa and then obtained a search warrant signed by 392nd District Court Judge Scott McKee. Athens Police contacted Henderson County Crimes Against Children Task Force to assist in the investigation. The initial investigation indicated the child was killed with an edged weapon according to the release.
On Monday while working through the crime scene and conducting interviews, investigators learned that Grayson was killed midafternoon Sunday. According to the press release, Mary Johnson had actually observed Monica Figueroa on top of a rolled up blanket cutting it with a wooden handled knife. Johnson heard Grayson screaming before she observed Figueroa cutting at the blanket and then the screaming stopped. Figueroa threatened Johnson and instructed her to leave which she did. Reports state Johnson returned to the residence the next morning and found Grayson deceased. Johnson then called law enforcement to respond to the residence.
An affidavit was prepared and sent to Judge Scott McKee seeking an arrest warrant for Johnson. Judge McKee issued an arrest warrant for endangering a child placed a preset bail amount on the warrant of $250,000. Johnson was arrested and transported to the Henderson County Jail where she was awaiting arraignments of press time Tuesday.
Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Tony Duncan conducted the inquest and ordered an autopsy be conducted by the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas. In addition to the task force and Athens PD, The Henderson County District Attorney’s Office, the Texas Ranges and Child Protective Services are involved in the ongoing investigation.